Manchester United v Chelsea – Fixture History, Team News, Tips & More

This week we have an absolute classic of English football to enjoy as two of the most successful teams in the Premier League era go head to head at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Bet365 Sport is already offering a wide range of bets on this game, which takes place on Wednesday evening this week.

It is a crunch game for both teams with United currently five points ahead of Chelsea but with the rather ignominious record of having lost to every top half team they have faced in the Premier League this season (and Chelsea currently lie 10^th).

For Chelsea, their recent form has been better but they have still suffered from some heavy defeats, such as a 4-1 loss at Newcastle, so a win here, against a team that they have not beaten since 2020 and who they have not beaten in the Premier League at Old Trafford since 2013, would be huge.

The bookmakers certainly feel the form is with United here, but have they read things right? Let’s preview the game and find out.

Head-To-Head

• Games Played – 193
• Manchester United Wins – 82
• Chelsea Wins – 55
• Draws – 56

Last Ten Games

Trends

• Five of the last six games between the two teams have finished either as a 1-1 or 0-0 draw.
• Three of the last four games between the two teams have seen a penalty awarded (and converted) by the home team.
• Injured Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has scored on both his last two games against Chelsea.
• 19 of the last 25 goals scored by the two teams in games between them have come in the second half. Five of those goals have come after the 80^th minute mark while nine goals have been scored after the 70^th minute mark.
• The earliest goal Chelsea have scored against Manchester United in the last 10 games came in the 45^th minute. United’s earliest goal came in the 6^th minute.
• In the previous two games between Chelsea and United, Joao Felix scored in the 89^th minute in the most recent game and Casemiro scored in the 90^th minute in the game before that.
• The last time the two managers faced off was in the 2018/19 Champions League Semi Final when Pochettino was manager of Spurs and Ten Hag manager of Ajax. Ajax won the first leg 1-0 in London, with Spurs winning the second leg 3-2 in Amsterdam, going through on away goals.
• Chelsea have not beaten Manchester United in the Premier League since 2017 and they have not beaten United at Old Trafford in the Premier League since May 2013.

Famous Players To Have Played for Both Teams

• Radamel Falcao (Colombia) – AC
• Juan Sebastian Veron (Argentina) – MC
• Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) – AC
• Mason Mount (England) – MC
• Juan Mata (Spain) – MC
• Nemanja Matic (Serbia) – DMC
• Mark Hughes (Wales) – AC
• Paul Parker (England) – DR
• Mark Bosnich (Australia) – GK
• George Graham (Scotland) – AC
• Mal Donaghy (Northern Ireland) – DLC
• Ray Wilkins (England) – MC
• Alex Stepney (England) – GK
• Graham Moore (England) – MC
• Stan Crowther (England) – MC

Top 5 Classic Clashes

• Chelsea 5-6 Manchester United (October 1954)

17-year-old Duncan Edwards starred in midfield for Manchester United as they defeated Chelsea 6-5 in an autumn classic back in 1954. Both teams saw players score hat-tricks with Seamus O’Connell doing so for Chelsea and Dennis Violett likewise for United. Jim Lewis and Ken Armstrong grabbed Chelsea’s other goals, while Jackie Blanchflower and Tommy Taylor with two rounded off the scorers for United.

• Manchester United 0-4 Chelsea (August 1968)

Just a couple of months after being proclaimed European Champions, Manchester United were humbled in front of 55,000 fans at Old Trafford as Chelsea scored four goals without reply against a United side that featured Crerand, Sadler, Stiles, Best, Charlton and Kidd. A Tommy Baldwin brace alongside goals from Alan Birchenall and Bobby Tambling handing the Londoners a big win.

• Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea (May 1994)

The first FA Cup Final between these two teams saw Manchester United run out comfortable winners and in doing so, claim the double. After a goalless first half, United took control after the break when two penalties from Eric Cantona in a five minute spell handed them a big advantage. Mark Hughes added a third just four minutes later, before Brian McClair slotted home a fourth in injury time to hand United the trophy.

• Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United (October 1999)

A Gus Poyet goal after just 28 seconds of the game put Chelsea on the way to one of their biggest ever wins over Manchester United in October 1999. Chris Sutton doubled the lead on 16 minutes with a towering header before Poyet added a third on 54 after Nicky Butt was sent off. A Henning Berg own goal followed by Jody Morris’ 81^st minute fifth goal summed up a nightmare day for United at Stamford Bridge and left Chelsea fans purring.

• Manchester United 1-3 Chelsea (July 2020)

During the pandemic, when football returned, we had an FA Cup Semi Final between Chelsea and Manchester United to look forward to. The game was expected to be a close one but in the end, Chelsea proved worthy winners. Giroud and Mount scoring either side of half time to put the Londoner’s 2-0 up at Wembley and when a Harry Maguire own goal made it 3-0, it meant Bruno Fernandes 85^th minute penalty was scant consolation.

Next Fixture Details

Manchester United v Chelsea

• Date – Wednesday 6^th December 2023
• Venue – Old Trafford, Manchester
• Kick Off – 8.15pm

Manchester United

• Manager – Erik Ten Hag (Netherlands)
• EPL Record – 7^th, P14, 24pts (-1)
• Form – W3, D0, L2

Team News

Erik Ten Hag must be wondering what he can do to breathe some life into this Manchester United team after their dismal showing in the defeat at Newcastle. A 1-0 defeat belies how well beaten United were by the Magpies and while the United defence did well, I think there could be changes further forward.

Marcus Rashford’s poor form and Antony Martial’s poor showing last week mean they are two to consider for the chop this week, while Ten Hag may want more experience in midfield against Chelsea, which could see Sofyan Amrabat get a rare start in place of Mainoo.

Several United players remain absent through injury including Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, while Jadon Sancho still remains out of the first team picture.

Manchester United Predicted Team & Formation

I expect Erik Ten Hag to make a number of changes in advanced positions after the loss to Newcastle at the weekend with the likes of Martial, Rashford and Mainoo dropping out for Hojlund, Antony and Amrabat coming in.

Chelsea

• Manager – Mauricio Pochettino (Argentina)
• EPL Record – 10^th, P14, 19pts (3)
• Form – W2, D1, L2

Team News

Chelsea are still without a number of long-term absentees through injury in the form of Christopher N’Kunku, Romeo Lavia, Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell. However, N’Kunku and Lavia are believed to be close to a return.

Cole Palmer missed playing from the start in the Brighton game with a knock picked up in training but is expected to be fit to face United if selected as he did come on as a sub in the Brighton game.

The Blues will be without England midfielder Conor Gallagher who was sent off against Brighton at the weekend and will serve a suspension for this game.

Chelsea Predicted Team & Formation

After a win over Brighton, I think the only change for Chelsea here will be Cole Palmer starting in place of the suspended Conor Gallagher. I would expect Romeo Lavia and Christopher N’Kunku to perhaps make the bench if they are fit enough for consideration here.

Current Betting Odds with Bet365 Sport

• Manchester United Win –  15/8
• Chelsea Win – 11/8
• Draw – 5/2

Our 3 Top Tips for Manchester United v Chelsea

Tip 1 – Cole Palmer (Chelsea) to score at any time – 12/5

Tip 2 – Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) to score at any time – 3/1

Tip 3 – Correct Score – Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea – 11/1